The following list consists of companies that are not cruelty-free. Its main source is PETA, and we’ve supplemented it with our own research. These brands engage in animal testing OR fund animal testing in some capacity, the most common example being by testing on animals where the law requires it. Also note that some of the brands listed here misleadingly label themselves as “cruelty-free”, a term that is not regulated.
Big Corporations Who Test On Animals
Most of these brands are owned by a few giant corporations: L’Oreal, Estee Lauder, Procter & Gamble, Clorox, Johnson & Johnson, S.C. Johnson, Colgate-Palmolive, Reckitt Benckiser, Church & Dwight, Unilever, and Henkel.
These companies own the majority of the brands we commonly find in most retailer stores and drugstores, and they’re making no real efforts to change their unethical policies.
There are however two exceptions, the first one being Colgate-Palmolive, which have agreed to gradually change their policy. PETA currently lists Colgate-Palmolive as “working toward regulatory changes to reduce the number of animals used for testing”. This does NOT mean the company is or will be cruelty-free in the near future! It’s only a small step in the right direction, and the company still DOES test on animals at this point.
The second exception consists of a few select brands. While in most cases, brands that are owned by companies that test on animals are not cruelty-free, L’Oreal is one of the few companies to own brands that have kept their ethical stances and have remained cruelty-free under the ownership. The same goes for Too Faced and Becca (now owned by Estee Lauder but still cruelty-free) and Tom’s of Maine (Colgate-Palmolive). All the brands mentioned on this list, however, do test on animals.
Please note that this list is not exhaustive. This list only includes companies that claimed they test on animals at some point, or sell in China; there are many other companies who remained silent about their animal testing policy.
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Confused. Just looked at Rimmel london and they say they do not test on animals.
If you read the fine print, they’re not cruelty-free sadly.
Mary Kay only tests on animals in China because it is required by Law. Mary Kay in the United States does not!
Hi Rachel! Many companies word their animal testing policy in deceiving terms. An example would be stating that they’re “against animal testing” or that they “don’t ask others to test on their behalf”. Another common issue is companies stating that they don’t test on animals “except where required by law”, which means they’re not truly cruelty-free.
Then this should say worldwide list. You could have 2 separate lists. One for worldwide and one for American.
These are all global companies, and the profits from US sales are not in a separate bubble. If you buy something in the US, other parts of North America like Canada or Mexico, Europe, etc., the profits all go to the one company. So if they sell in China, the profits from something you bought are used by them to pay for the animal testing that allows them to sell in China.
HI, I wrote you earlier about Marc Jacobs and coty. They promised they didn’t test on animals, but they lied. They were very deceiving . They may not test in animals here in the states , but they sell to China and they do the testing. I will contacting them and telling how disappointing they are and how sneaky they were to a once loyal customer. It makes me sick to know how these companies will lie and twist words to sell a product. Thanks again for all your hard work.
Hi, I contacted Coty and Marc Jacobs and they both told me they DO NOT TEST on animals . Coty actually sent me a copy if a legal documents with their entire policy on no animal testing . Please tell me why you have them on the test list? Is there something I’m not asking the two companies the right way? I don’t want to buy from them if they actually test on animals. I can send you the copy of their policy they emailed me if it would help. Thank you for all your hard work!
I see Miessence is missing from this list (http://www.miessence.com/organiccarehk/en/). Miessence are not only free form animal testing they are also certified organic to food grade standards. They offer a beautful range of skin, paersonal, hai and home care as well as superfoods.
I’m confused. Last year Joico was cruelty free. What did change so now they aren’t anymore cruelty free? Thank you
Hi Carole! They test on animals where required by law only.
Although I agree with your general point and think animal testing is cruel and mostly unnecessary, I am a little confused about the pet food. How else would you test pet food? Human food is tested on humans too… Please explain.
The issue is the method in which the pet food is “tested”. Animal testing here refers to using lab animals, which are treated extremely poorly. Although lab conditions today are better than they used to be, there are alternatives to using lab animals. The alternative is using “real” pets that go on with their day-to-day lives as opposed to caged lab animals. I hope this explains it a bit better! I did write a lengthly post on the topic. 🙂
Thanks for the clarification. 🙂
For anyone who’s curious about L’Oreal’s true animal testing policy, please refer to this post: https://staging.crueltyfreekitty.com/news/loreal-animal-testing-not-cruelty-free/
https://staging.crueltyfreekitty.com/cruelty-free-101/shop-cruelty-free/ in this page you said sephora is cruelty free and in here it’s not?
The Sephora makeup brand is not cruelty-free because it’s not in China. I shop at Sephora for cruelty-free brands mentioned on the list.
I never knew this !!! I will now never buy products from these stupid brands ! Wait until the law breaks your brand dumbos!
Hi Maria! Oriflame is not cruelty-free, no. They’re sold in mainland China which mandates animal testing.
Here’s L’Oreals actual animal testing policy: https://staging.crueltyfreekitty.com/news/loreal-animal-testing-not-cruelty-free/
That is a heck of a lot of animals!!!!! In this century it should be outlawed!!
L’oreal does not s till test on animals….
They do unfortunately! For anyone interested, here’s my post on the topic: https://staging.crueltyfreekitty.com/news/loreal-animal-testing-not-cruelty-free/
PETA just reported that Marc Jacobs has officially gone cruelty free! I am so excited because his lipglosses are amazing!
You do know that even if the company did not test on animals, at least one (and in most cases almost all) were tested on animals. They wouldn’t be allowed to be sold if they weren’t.
So are Chanel fragrances not tested on animals?
Chanel does test on animals.
Glamglow is claiming to be cruelty free on their site and have mostly vegan products with exeption of thirstymud. So I’m wondering why they are on the list?
Are they lying?
Selling in mainland of china? (which now days have lifted the law of animal testing,YEY progress!!)
Or is there something else I’m missing?
Note that Hongkong have different rules than the mainland of China.
Yes, China.
But to mainland China or Hongkong? Are they still testing now when the law have altered?
As you are aware of Lush is selling in Hongkong but are still 100% crueltyfree.
How can I ask a company as a private person to prove if that are truly crueltyfree or not? Just a follow upp question so i can check some local brands 🙂
The law was only altered for local companies selling SOME types of cosmetics, so the law is still 100% unchanged for foreign companies like Glamglow. And they do sell in mainland China unfortunately, not just in Hong Kong where that law doesn’t apply. 🙁
Hey! I was just wondering shouldn’t Fairy Liquid be on this list? They’re owned by Procter and Gamble so they should be on this bad list ?
Hi, I’ve been researching essential oil companies and finding it very difficult to get straight answers. Have you heard if Young Living or DoTERRA are cruelty free? Thx!
For whatever reason, the whole link didn’t post. L’Oreal and subsidiaries discontinued animal testing.
http://www.loreal.com/csr-commitments/l’oréal-answers/the-question-of-animal-testing
Blue Buffalo is a high end dog food isn’t it? Can you explain how they use animal testing?
Here’s a post 🙂
I only saw one of the products on here I use which is not cruelty free. Unfortunately, I don’t think an alternative exists. Sorry, the Mizani line of products has been the only line that works on my hair. If anyone can provide me with a cruelty-free alternative, I’ll be grateful.
So disappointed in myself that I own too many of these brands. I will begin to swap over to cruelty free items as soon as I can!
Apparently L’Occitane stated that they didn’t test on animals was this list made before they said this or are they lying when they said they didn’t test on them 🙂
They test on animals where required by law unfortunately, and they sell their products where the law requires animal testing (China)! This is why they can’t be considered cruelty-free.
Oh ok thank you x
Oh ok thank you x
It’s written on Dr. Jart+ website that they don’t test on animals??
http://us.drjart.com/products/22
Shit! Literally every makeup brand (besides elf), face wash, hair care, and cleaning product I use was on here! I recently decided to try and use less non-cruelty free products but now it looks like I have to find new brands for everything! I’m kind of overwhelmed.
Shelby, did you take a look at the cruelty-free list? I hope you find some cruelty-free alternatives you love! Let me know if you need some help!
I think it’s disgusting that in this day and age that there are that many companies out there still testing on animals – quite frankly I’m shocked, I have now made the switch and I have just ordered my full makeup from BarryM, can you plesae advise of a cruelty free toothpaste and moisturiser? I will be going through all my lotions and potions in the next few weeks and disguarding anything that so much as hints at pain and suffering.
For toothpaste, check out this post. 🙂
Hello! I didn’t see Tom’s of Maine on your list and they are actually owned by Colgate who test on animals. I don’t know if you were informed of this, I wasn’t until literally half an hour ago and I am completely devastated.
Hi Gabriela, thanks for your comment!
Although Tom’s is now owned by a company that tests on animals, the brand itself remained cruelty-free after the change. If you don’t support any brand owned by a company that tests on animals, I realize this doesn’t soften the blow unfortunately. But if it’s of any comfort, Tom’s of Maine is still certified by the Leaping Bunny. I hope you find another brand you love that’s 100% cruelty-free (I can recommend Desert Essence, Alba Botanica, or Jason). Best of luck!